Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour

Q: How much is the Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Day tour?

A private day tour with Himalayan 360 starts at USD 78 per person for a single traveler. For two people, the price drops to USD 48 per person, and for a group of 3–5, it’s USD 43 per person. This price includes a guide, transportation, and taxes.

Q: Who can join the Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Day tour?

This tour is perfect for almost everyone. Beginners, families with children, couples, seniors, and business travelers can all enjoy it. The cable car makes Chandragiri easy to reach, but climbing the steps at the Monkey Temple can feel like a light adventure.

Q: How much is the Chandragiri Cable Car Ticket?

Ticket prices differ based on nationality. For Nepalese, it costs NPR 825, SAARC NPR 1320, Chinese USD 16, and other foreigners USD 23 for a round-trip. Discounts are available for students, the elderly, and children, with free entry for those over 80 or children under 3 feet.

Q: Why is Swayambhunath called the Monkey Temple?

Swayambhunath is called the “Monkey Temple” because many rhesus macaque monkeys live on the hill. These monkeys are considered sacred and are believed to be followers of the Bodhisattva Manjushri. They have lived around the temple for centuries, adding a lively charm to the site.

Q: How many steps are there to Monkey Temple Kathmandu?

The main eastern staircase has 365 steps and represents each day of the year. Some sources report slightly different numbers. For those who prefer a shorter route, a road on the western side provides an easier climb.

Q: What are the eyes of Swayambhunath?

The eyes painted on the four sides of the stupa are called the Wisdom Eyes of Buddha. They symbolize the Buddha’s ability to see all directions and represent his wisdom. The small nose-like symbol between the eyes is the Devanagari numeral for “one”, representing unity and the single path to enlightenment.

Destination

Nepal

Max. Altitude

2,551m/8,369ft

Best Season

All Season

Transportation

Private Vehicle

Start / End

Thamel/Thamel

Meals

N/A

Travel Duration

8Hours

The Chandragiri and Monkey Temple tour is one of the best day trips you can do while staying in Kathmandu. You get to explore two famous hilltops: the Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath Stupa) and Chandragiri Hill. This day tour promises an enriching experience blending cultural heritage with stunning Himalaya views.

At first, the trip begins towards Chandragiri Hill by cable car. You’ll enjoy a relaxing ride on the Chandragiri Cable Car. The cable car glides smoothly over pine forests and offers serene views of green hills, the Kathmandu Valley, and the Himalayan range. The ride is safe, reliable, and comfortable, with backup power and emergency services in place. At the top of Chandragiri Hill, you can visit the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, enjoy fresh mountain air, and soak in the quiet surroundings.

No. of Persons	Price per Person
1 – 1	$78
2 – 2	$48
3 – 5	$43
6 – 20	$33

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Major Highlights of Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour

Enjoy a smooth 10-12 minutes scenic ride above lush green forests to reach the Chandragiri viewpoint.
Take in stunning views of Mt. Everest (8,848.86m), Ganesh Himal (7,422m), Langtang Lirung (7,234m), Langtang Ri (7,205m), and others from Chandragiri.
In the colder months (Dec-Feb), Chandragiri often turns into a snowy wonderland, making it a magical spot for visitors.
Visit the peaceful Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple at the Chandragiri hilltop.
Explore the ancient Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Witness the whole view of Kathmandu Valley from the top of Swayambhunath.
Spot playful monkeys around the Monkey temple, adding fun to your visit.
Immerse in the cultural and spiritual ambiance of prayer wheels, shrines, and colorful prayer flags

Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour at a Glance

Distance, walking time and high point for each day
Day	Itinerary	Distance / Time	Altitude
01	Drive To Chandragiri, Ride Chandragiri Cable Car, And to Swoyambhunathroad transfer	28 km8 hrs	—
Totals		0.0 km0 hrs	0 m

Reviews from our Guests

From travellers who walked this exact itinerary.

5.0

★★★★★

Tripadvisor52 ReviewsGoogle44 Reviews

★★★★★

I took so many photos that day, my phone was full. The Monkey Temple gives the best panoramic views, and the monkeys make it funny. The old squares in Kathmandu and Patan are like photo sets with so many details in every corner. Boudhanath Stupa was perfect for some calm, wide-angle shots. If you like pictures and culture, this day tour is gold.

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Hana SvenssonSeptember 2025

★★★★★

I didn’t expect to see so much in one day. Swayambhunath was fun with monkeys running around, and the view was epic. Kathmandu Durbar Square had these incredible carvings and old palaces. Patan Durbar Square’s museum was really cool, with ancient statues and art. Boudhanath Stupa was super peaceful, and spinning the prayer wheels was fun. Honestly, I felt like I traveled back in time.

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SpainSeptember 2025

★★★★★

My favorite part was when a monkey literally jumped near my backpack at Swayambhunath and it shocked me so much, I laughed for a minute straight. The panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley made it all worth it. Kathmandu Durbar Square had massive temples, Patan had detailed statues, and Boudhanath Stupa was lovely!

Verified purchase

Monie ErikssonSeptember 2025

★★★★★

Verified purchase

Hana SvenssonSeptember 2025

★★★★★

Verified purchase

SpainSeptember 2025

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Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour Day By Day Itinerary

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Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact	Details
Time:	09:00-17:00
Ascent:	N/A
Travel Duration:	8Hours
Travel Distance:	28KM/17Mile

At 9:00 AM, we will pick you up from your hotel or your preferred location to start the Chandragiri and Monkey Temple tour. Then we will drive you to the Chandragiri Cable Car Base Station in a comfortable private vehicle. From the base station, you will take a 10-12 minutes Chandragiri cable car ride tour to the hilltop. The ride is 2.4 km long. At the hilltop of Chandragiri, there is a Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple. It is a sacred Hindu shrine for Lord Shiva. You can pay respects at the temple. From the top, you will also enjoy the Himalaya vista, including Mount Everest, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, etc. Take photos and relax.

After some hours, you will again take the cable car back from Chandragiri Hills. Next, you will drive to Swayambhunath Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple. Monkey Temple is the major temple for Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal and dates back to the 5th century. At first, you will stop at the Statue of Peace to toss a coin for good luck. After that, you will walk past smaller temples and shrines. The tour ends at 5:00 PM. We will drop you back at your hotel. You will leave with memories of Himalayan views, spiritual sites, and Kathmandu culture.

Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact	Details
Meals:	N/A
Accommodation:	N/A

Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour Included/ Excluded

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes

Transfer

Comfortable private vehicle for tour as per the Group size and itinerary only.

International Airfare.
Chandragir cable car fees

Support

English speaking guide.

All entrance fees as per the itinerary mentioned places.
All personal expenses.

Others

All internal taxes.
1Bottle/days of water during tour.

All the services not listed in “Including” services.
Tips for the crew member (it is expected).

How much is the Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Day tour?

Who can join the Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Day tour?

How much is the Chandragiri Cable Car Ticket?

Why is Swayambhunath called the Monkey Temple?

How many steps are there to Monkey Temple Kathmandu?

What are the eyes of Swayambhunath?

Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour Information

Best Season

All Season

Weighing It Against the Alternatives

If you are still deciding, this is how Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tour sits against the trips people most often weigh it against — on days, distance, difficulty and cost.

This trip compared with the alternatives
Trip	Days / Distance	Difficulty	From
Chandragiri and Monkey Temple Tourthis trip	1 days	Easy	$33
4 UNESCO Heritage Site Day Tour in Kathmandu	1 days	Easy	$32
Annapurna Base Camp Heli Tour	1 days	Medium	On request
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour	1 days	Easy	$1,070
Everest Mountain Flight	1 days	Easy	$215

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Written by Mr. Barad Neupane, guiding in Nepal since 2014.

Amongst some of the oldest friends of Himalayan 360 is Mr Barad Neupane, who is a go-easy, down-to-earth cultural and religious guiding staff from its establishment. He is a very good and experienced guide and has a good history of knowledge of Religion, culture, and history of Nepal.

Last updated 4 February 2026

$33 per person

Himalayan360Everything there is to do in the Himalayas

AdventureTrek the Himalayas, fly over them at sunrise, land at base camp, drift across the lake at Pokhara
CulturalLearn Kathmandu’s temples, eat your way through the city, sit at a festival in Bhutan
SpiritualRoll out a yoga mat on the trail, walk to Muktinath, cross Tibet to Kailash

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